Problems with the brain’s ability to “clear” itself of unnecessary connections may be at the root of various mental disorders that begin in adolescence, according to the study.
Findings from an international collaboration led by researchers from the UK, China and Germany may help explain why people often have more than one mental disorder and may help identify those who are most at risk in the future.
Nearly one in five (18 per cent) of children aged 7 to 16 in England are likely to have a mental health problem by 2022, according to a major NHS report. Depression, anxiety and behavioral disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are among the leading causes of illness and disability in young people, and adolescents often suffer from more than one psychiatric disorder.
Many mental health problems develop during adolescence. These include disorders such as depression and anxiety, which manifest as “internal” symptoms, including depression and anxiety. Other conditions, such as ADHD, present as “externalizing” symptoms, such as: B. impulsive behavior.
Professor Barbara Sahakian of the University of Cambridge said: “Young people often suffer from multiple mental disorders that begin in adolescence and continue into adulthood – and often transform. This suggests that there is a common brain mechanism that may explain the occurrence of these mental disorders during this critical period of brain development.”
In a study published in naturopathyThe researchers say they have identified a characteristic pattern of brain activity in these children, which they call the “neuropsychopathological factor,” or NP factor for short.
The team studied data from 1,750 14-year-olds as part of a European research project investigating how biological, psychological and environmental factors during adolescence can influence brain development and mental health.
Specifically, they looked at image data from brain scans as participants performed cognitive tasks, looking for patterns in brain connectivity — in other words, how different areas of the brain interact with each other.
Adolescents with mental health problems—regardless of whether their disorder included internalization or externalization of symptoms, or whether they had multiple disorders—showed similar patterns of brain activity. These patterns—the NP factor—were mostly seen in the frontal lobes, an area of the front of the brain responsible for executive function that regulates flexible thinking, self-control, and emotional behavior, among other things.
The researchers confirmed their findings by replicating them in a long-term study of child brain development and health in the United States, which included 1,799 participants and examined patients who were diagnosed with a psychiatric diagnosis.
When the team looked at the genetic data of the European cohort, they found that the NP factor was strongest in people carrying a specific IGSF11 gene variant that had previously been associated with several mental disorders.
It is known that this gene plays an important role in the reduction of synapses, during which unnecessary brain connections are discarded – synapses. Circumcision problems can particularly affect the frontal lobes, as these areas are the last areas of the brain to complete their development in adolescents and young adults.
Dr Tianye Jia, from King’s College London, said: “As we get older, our brains make more and more connections. This is a normal part of our development. But too many connections risk making the brain inefficient. Synaptic pruning helps ensure that brain activity is not drowned out by white noise.
“Our study shows that the disruption of this important circumcision process affects the interaction of brain regions. Because these effects are most commonly seen in the frontal lobes, this has implications for mental health.”
The researchers say the discovery of the NP factor could help identify those young people most at risk of worsening mental health problems and intervene to reduce that risk.
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.